asked the Minister of Power how much of the £30 million likely to be spent in the North and Irish Seas on drilling for oil and gas will be spent in the Irish Sea, and how much of this sum is likely to be spent in the North-West of England and in North Wales, respectively.

I could not state how much is likely to be spent on drilling in the Irish Sea without disclosing information about the working obligations contained in an individual licence, which are confidential.